A delegate to the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) has opposed setting up more Disneyland theme parks in China, for fears that they might make Chinese people less fond of Chinese culture.

“Since children will pursue Western culture when they are young, they will like Western culture when they grow up. Hence, they will become uninterested in Chinese culture,” Li Xiusong, a delegate from Anhui province to the CPPCC told China Youth Daily on Wednesday.

Delegate to the CPPCC Li Xiusong. Photo: china.com.cn.

“If China’s cultural products do not appear attractive to the children, over time, this may affect China’s cultural heritage,” Li added.

He also suggested that China should establish its own “Chinese Disneyland” with its own classical stories. For instance, he believed that elements of “Journey to the West” – one of the four great classical novels of Chinese literature – could be integrated to create an adventurous theme park for children.

A depiction of a scene in the book Journey to the West. Photo: WikiCommons.

Shanghai Disneyland is set to open on June 16, 2016. The resort, which is owned by both Walt Disney and the Shanghai government, was approved by the Chinese government in 2009.

Hong Kong also has a Disneyland, which opened its doors in 2005. However, after a decade-long run the amusement park has slipped into a loss. In February, the theme park reported a loss of HK$148 million last year, citing a drop in tourist numbers.

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